The adrenal glands are responsible for making several critical hormones, including cortisol, which the body needs in order to respond to stress and which helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels in children.
Adrenal carcinoma (ACC) affects 1 to 2 per million population annually and may be curable if treated at an early stage. Radical surgical excision is the treatment of choice for localized malignancies and remains the only method by which long-term disease-free survival may be achieved. Overall 5-year survival for tumors resected for cure is approximately 40%. Retrospective studies have identified two important prognostic factors: completeness of resection and stage of disease. The most common sites of metastases are the peritoneum, lung, liver, and bone.
Other than surgery, the only treatment for ACC is the exacting use of a compound called mitotane (Lysodren®, Bristol-Myers Squibb), a chemical relative of DDT, which the U.S. banned as an insecticide in 1972, systemic chemotherapy, or (for localized lesions) radiation therapy.
While use of mitotane in ACC patients reduces tumors, it also diminishes adrenal gland function, requiring patients to take hormone replacements for the rest of their lives. In addition, mitotane must be administered for at least three months in order to reach a therapeutic level. Even then, it has proved effective in about 22% of ACC cases. When given with other chemotherapy drugs, the effectiveness of mitotane may be improved, but patients often suffer debilitating side effects.
Clinicians at TGen Clinical Research Services (TCRS), a strategic alliance between the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare, hope that a new compound, OSI-906, a small molecule IGF-1R inhibitor that blocks the chemical pathway that otherwise allows the ACC tumors to grow out of control.
The drug candidate is developed by OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Melville, N.Y., and will stop ACC tumor growth — perhaps even promote tumor shrinkage — without the toxic side effects of current chemotherapies. The trial will focus on patients with inoperable tumors who have relapsed or failed to respond to conventional therapies.
IGF-1R inhibitor
OSI-906 is a potent, selective orally active inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) which has been viewed as an important therapeutic target due to its involvement in the growth and proliferation in a variety of human cancers, including adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), ovarian and non-small cell lung cancers.
The new drug candidate stimulates proliferation, enables onogenic transformation, and suppresses apoptosis. Inhibitors of IGF-1R are expected to have broad utility in oncology since the over-expression of IGF-1R and/or its ligands or the down-regulation of ligand binding proteins occurs in numerous human malignancies including lung, colon, breast, prostate, brain and skin cancers. In addition, signaling through the IGF system has been implicated in protecting tumor cells from apoptosis induced by anti-cancer treatments such as cytotoxic agents and EGFR inhibitors. Scientists therefore believe that OSI-906 may be useful both as a single agent and in combination with other targeted therapies such as erlotinib (Tarceva® marketed by Genentech Bioncology and OSI Pharmaceuticals).
Ongoing research
During the 2009 annual meeting of ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, a number of abstracts were published with IGF-1R inhibitors in a range of cancers, making a case for insulin growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitors as a potential target for cancer therapeutics. So far, the data presented at ASCO has been very preliminary and isolated responses were seen.
In addition to OSI (OSI-906), a number of pharmaceutical and research companies have active, ongoing research programs in the clinic. Many other companies are involved in preliminary research in different stages in different cancers (Exelixis/XL228, Amgen/AMG-479, Roche/R1507, Pfizer/CP-751,871/Figitumumab, BMS/BMS-754807, Merck/MK-0646, and Imclone/Lilly/IMC A12). Others companies, including Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Eisai, Biogen Idec, are interested to see how this new class pans out.
OSI-906 trial
A clinical trial of OSI-906 is expected to last several years and include 135 patients, with 30-40 enrolled at TCRS. As there is no standard therapy available, two-thirds of the patients will receive the drug OSI-906 while one-third receives a placebo. Sites elsewhere in the U.S., as well as in Europe and Australia, are expected to enroll patients over the coming months.
“The trial is major step toward helping patients with ACC, who often face radical surgery as part of their treatment,” said Dr. Michael J. Demeure, who will oversee the trial locally. Dr. Demeure is a TGen Senior Investigator and a Scottsdale Healthcare surgeon experienced in removing ACC tumors.
“It’s a big operation requiring a large incision because these tumors can be the size of a football. Unfortunately many patients’ tumors have spread so we can’t remove it all, so new treatments are needed.’’ Demeure explained. “This unique partnership between Scottsdale Healthcare and TGen allows us to bring the newest and most promising treatments to patients with cancer right here in Arizona.”
The TCRS clinic in the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea is the first site worldwide approved for these clinical trials.
"Being the first site in the world for clinical trials of this drug adds to the long list of ‘firsts’ for the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center,” said Mark Slater, Ph.D., vice president of research. "Scottsdale Healthcare’s collaborations with world-class physicians and scientists are helping pave the way for exciting new cancer treatments to benefit patients with cancer everywhere.”
Although the disease is very rare, Demeure said that developing a new drugs against this orphan indication is worth the effort and expense. “Patients with rare tumors have unique challenges. Often it is difficult for them to find a doctor who even knows about their disease,” he said. “What we learn taking care of those patients with ACC could help us learn how to take care of others with rare tumors.’’
The clinical trial follows nearly 3 1/2 years of research at TGen, initiated through the efforts of patient advocate and ACC survivor, Mr. Troy Richards.
Richards, a Scottsdale resident, has battled ACC since 1999. To combat what little research he saw being done on the disease, he began the Advancing Treatments for Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ATAC) fund, which helped finance the ACC Research Program at TGen.
"The ACC project at TGen has finally given those of us with the disease hope for better treatments, and maybe one day a cure,” said Mr. Richards. “It is my hope that this program can serve as a model for other rare diseases, and that patients will realize they do have the power to make a difference.”
Dr. Kimberly Bussey, a TGen Associate Investigator and Lead Investigator for TGen’s Adrenocortical Carcinoma Research Program, said, “Troy brings a sense of urgency and a connection to the ACC patient community that made this trial possible. This is a huge accomplishment for the ACC Research Program at TGen and a great testament to what patient-advocated research can accomplish in a short period of time.”
“We are eagerly awaiting the opening of this study,” said Dr. Maqbool Halepota, an oncologist with the Palo Verde Hematology/Oncology group based at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare. “I firmly believe that targeted therapies are the future of cancer care, and our partnership with TCRS allows patients in the Phoenix area access to many innovative trials.”
For additional information:
- Scottsdale Clinical Research Institute
- Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation
- Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center
- TGen Clinical Research Services
t Hall D2. Plenary Session, Lead Author: Norman Wolmark, MD, Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh, Pa. Abstract No# LBA4 
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